Punjab Govt Launched Smart Ration Card Scheme to Cover 1.141 Cr Beneficiaries of NFSA

• Over a virtual platform Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab launched the Smart Ration Card Scheme to cover 1.41 crore beneficiaries of National Food Security Act (NFSA) across Punjab.
• About Punjab
• Capital - Chandigarh
• CM - Capt. Amarinder Singh Governor - VP Singh Badnore

Assam Govt developed "Visit Assam" New Mobile App for Air Passengers from other states

• The Government of Assam developed a mobile app named "Visitassam" which enables the air passengers to download forms and fill it which can be used at the airports to reduce the time on the formalities for COVID-19 tests and ensures the proper social distancing norms.
• The government also introduced a change of protocol for the air passengers to take the "Tatkal RT-PCR" test with a payment of Rs 2200 whose result will be given within 24 hours.
• About Assam
• Capital - Dispur
• CM - Sarbananda Sonowal
• Governor - Jagdish Mukhi

West Bengal + UKIBC Signed MoU to strengthen State's Industrial Development

• West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and UK India Business Council (UKIBC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate industrial development in West Bengal.
• The MoU will boost business and industrial development by developing the business environment and strengthening collaboration with British Business Enterprises in West Bengal.
• UKIBC will support interactions between UK businesses and State Government to provide direct feedback on ease of doing business, market access and other issues.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport gets ACI Health accreditation for Safe Travel

• The Airport Council International (ACI), a worldwide association for the air transport industry, granted GMR Group-led Rajiv Gandhi International Airport located at Hyderabad, Telangana, the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) for the safety measures being taken at the aerodrome.
• The airport is among the first airports in the Asia Pacific region to have received this accreditation.

Plastic Park Scheme

• Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers Sadananda Gowda announced a scheme for setting up 10 Plastics Parks throughout the country.
• The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has already given final approval in the states of Assam, Madhya Pradesh (2 parks), Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand.
• The Central Government will provide funds up to 50% of the project cost (ceiling of Rs. 40 Crore per project) and the remaining will be funded by State Government and beneficiary industries.
• The plastic parks will provide a common facility to consolidate and increase the capacities of the domestic plastic processing industry.

President Ram Nath Kovind virtually presented the NSS Award for 2018-2019

• Ram Nath Kovind, President of India conferred the National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards also known as Rashtriya Seva Yojana Award for the year 2018-2019 over a virtual event from Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
• He presented the awards to 42 awardees under 3 categories.
• National Service Scheme (NSS) Award
• The annual award is conferred by the Department of Youth Affairs of the ministry of youth affairs and sports.
• The award recognizes the contribution of the Universities / Colleges, +2 Councils, Senior Secondary, NSS Units / Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers towards community service.
• National Service Scheme (NSS)
• The National Service Scheme (NSS) was launched on the 100th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 1969 with the motto "Not Me, But You".
• Currently around 40 lakh NSS volunteers are enrolled across the nation.

KRITAGYA (Krishi-Taknik-Gyan) Hackathon of NAHEP under ICAR

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) announced a hackathon named "KRITAGYA" (Krishi-Taknik-Gyan) under its National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP).
• The national level Agriculture Tech Hackathon aims to develop and promote women friendly equipment through potential innovative technological solutions and collaboration with stakeholders to improve the farm mechanization, productivity and profitability in India
• KRITAGYA Hackathon
• KRITAGAYA Hackathon is an initiative taken by the NAHEP in partnership with the Agricultural Engineering Division of ICAR to support the learning capabilities, Innovations, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the Fam mechanization sector.
• Students, teachers, faculties, innovators and entrepreneurs from universities, technical institutions across India can participate and collaborate with the local startups and students of technology institutes.
• A group of maximum 4 members with not more than 1 faculty and / or 1 innovator or entrepreneur can compete in this hackathon.
• The cash award of Rs 5 lakhs, Rs 3 lakhs and Rs 1 lakh will be given to the winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize.

India's first RRTS train with design speed of 180 kmph unveiled

• The first look of India's first RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) train unveiled by Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) and Chairman, National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) during an event. This first RRTS train will provide its services to 82 km long Delhi Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS in 2022 after trials
• It should be noted that NCRTC is the nodal agency for executing this first RRTS project of India while the train sets are being manufactured by Bombardier Transportation India Private Limited at their Savli plant in Gujarat under the government's Make in India policy and AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan
• It will be one of the fastest RRTS in India which will reduce travel time from Meerut to Delhi to less than 60 minutes.
• About NCRTC
• NCRTC is a joint venture of the Government of India (50%) and State Governments of Haryana (12.5%), NCT Delhi (12.5%), Uttar Pradesh (12.5%) and Rajasthan (12.5%).
• MD -Vinay Kumar Singh

Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity beyond 2020

• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Prakash Javadekar represented India at the virtual ministerial roundtable dialogue on Biodiversity Beyond 2020. The meeting was held to exchange views on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development. The meeting was hosted by China.
• The Dialogue was conducted on the topic of Biodiversity Beyond 2020: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth.
• The 15th Conference of Parties (COPs) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is scheduled to be held in 2021 at Kunming, China.

India, Denmark signed MoU to increase co-operation in Intellectual Property Rights

• India and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance co-operation in the area of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) through exchange of best practices and collaborating in training programmes.
• The MoU will also include ways to protect traditional knowledge.
• The MoU was signed between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Danish Patent and Trademark Office, Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Kingdom of Denmark.

About Denmark

• Capital - Copenhagen
• Prime Minister - Mette Frederiksen
• Currency - Krone

Axis Bank Bayer for better life farming Initiative in India

• In order to provide enhanced and comprehensive financial solutions to smallholder farmers and rural farming communities, Axis Bank Ltd is partnered with Bayer's Better Life Farming Initiative in India.
• This partnership will offer a variety of end-to-end financial solutions and services like loans, deposits, withdrawals, payments etc. at affordable prices.
• Bayer's Best Livelihood Agricultural Centers will provide the solution, which are owned and operated by a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), Federation, agri-graduate or a local farmer / entrepreneur.

About Bayer AG

• CEO - Werner Baumann
• HQ - Leverkusen
• About Axis Bank Ltd
• HQ - Mumbai
• MD & CEO - Amitabh Chaudhry
• Tagline - Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi

Vakrangee Ltd gets RBI nod to setup Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit

• RBI granted in-principle approval for Vakrangee Ltd to set up Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU) to handle payment services related to bills.
• It has received the authorization under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
• About Vakrangee Limited
• Vakrangee Limited established in 1990 offers banking, insurance, money transfer services, e commerce, e-governance and other digital services on behalf of its partners banks, insurers, government agencies through its branches in rural and semi-urban areas.
• MD & CEO - Dinesh Nandwana
• HQ - Mumbai

ADB approved Loan for Urban Projects in Madhya Pradesh

• ADB has approved an additional financing of USD 270 million loan for construction of water supply and integrated storm water and sewage management infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh under Madhya Pradesh Urban Services Improvement Project
• About Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• President - Masatsugu Asakawa HQ-Manila, Philippines

SBI Card launched New Brand Campaign 'Contactless Connections'

• SBI Card (legally - SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited) launched 'Contactless Connections' a new brand campaign
• The campaign spreads the message that sharing of love and care is possible even during this difficult period where social distancing is the norm.
• This campaign is in continuation of the SBI cards brand campaign 'Ghar Mein Khushiyan.
• About Contactless Connections
• The campaign seeks to bring a new breath of positivity by demonstrating that people can connect emotionally and spread joy. despite the social distancing practices to which we are bound.
• About Ghar mein Khushiyaan
• The brand film aims to touch a passion with the audience by giving them new hope and encouraging them to fulfill their unfulfilled wishes with their loved ones.
• About SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited (SBI Card)
• HQ - Gurgaon
• MD & CEO - Ashwini Kumar Tewari

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sanju Yadav Won the AIFF Player of the Year Award 2019-2020

• Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, from Chandigarh, goalkeeper of Indian National Men's Football Team and Sanju Yadav from Haryana, Midfielder of India's National Women's Football Team were declared as the winners of the annual All India Football Federation Men's Footballer of the Year Award 2019-2020 and AIFF Women's Footballer of the Year Award 2019-2020 respectively.
• Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the 2nd goalkeeper to win the award after Subrata Paul in 2009.
• He was the recipient of the 2019 Arjuna Award which made him the 26th Footballer to receive the Arjuna Award.

International Day for Universal access to Information 2020 → September 28

• The United Nations (UN's International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is annually observed on 28th September to create awareness about the importance of access to information and to enhance the people's rights to information
• 28th September 2020 marks the first celebration of International Day for Universal Access to Information since proclaimed by the United Nations,
• The theme of IDUAI 2020 is "Access to Information in Times of Crisis".
• 2020 IDUAI: The International Day for Universal Access to Information 2020 focuses on "Access of Information - Saving Lives, Building Trust, Bringing Hope" to enhance the advantages of having constitutional, permitted and policy guarantees for public access to information to save lives, build trust and support sustainable policies through and beyond COVID-19 pandemic

About UNESCO

• Director General - Audrey Azoulay
• HQ - Paris

World Rabies Day ► September 28 2020

• World Rabies Day is observed annually on September 28 to raise awareness about the impact of rabies and how the disease can be prevented.
• The year 2020 marked the 14 World Rabies Day with theme "End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate".

World Deaf Day 2020 → September 27

• World Deaf Day is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of September, this year (2020) it falls on September 27. The day aims to create awareness about the achievements of the deaf people and deaf people community, to the general public, politician and development authorities.
• World Deaf Day 2019 was observed on September 29. 2019.
• The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) initiated the celebration of the World Day of the Deaf in 1958.
• International Week of the Deaf - The International Week of the Deaf (IWD), an initiative of the WFD was
• First launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy. It is celebrated annually by the global deaf community during the last full week of September to commemorate the first World Congress of the WFD which was held in September this year, it falls on 21-27 September.
• Theme of the 2020 International Week of the Deaf - "Reaffirming Deaf People's Human Rights".